Kathmandu, May 24

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation from Singha Durbar.

In his special address to the nation, the PM said he was resigning as prime minister to honour the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ reached with the Nepali Congress. Stating that since such agreements were not fully honoured in Nepal in the past, he wanted to end the ‘dearth of morality.’

The PM said he would continue to devote his efforts for national unity and consensus. “I feel proud to take leave of you as a successful prime minster,” the PM said.

He said he wanted to announce his resignation yesterday in the Parliament but due to House obstruction he decided to announce his resignation through a televised address to the nation.

Later in the evening the PM tendered his resignation to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

In his 30-minute address to the nation, the PM said his government was formed at a time when the country faced multiple challenges and Nepal’s foreign relations with neighbours were strained, but his government was able to resolve the problems and improve relations with neighbours.

He urged political forces to strengthen national unity by ending discrimination and exclusion.

He said though the country was able to establish political democracy, it had not been able to achieve social democracy and progress in social justice. He urged political parties to devote their efforts for the same.

The PM used the occasion to list his government’s achievements. He said his government could end load shedding, achieve   impressive economic growth that was the highest in recent years and successfully hold the first phase of local polls amid uncertainty.

“Who wins or loses is not my concern. Above all the federal republican order has won. The country has won,” the PM said.

He said the government provided additional relief to the quake-affected families and changed the leadership of the National Reconstruction Authority after it found that the authority was not working effectively in providing relief to quake-hit families.

List of accomplishments in PM’s words

• Revenue collection 24 per cent higher than the set target
• Decision to compensate those who lost properties during Madhes and Tharuhat movement
• Work to make 13 cities as mega cities under way
• Temporary insurance for Nepali migrant labourers hiked from Rs 7 lakh to 27 lakh
• 7.5 per cent economic growth achieved
• Global tender called to explore possibility of petroleum deposits
• Global tender called for having Nepal’s own satellite
• Decision to construct fast-track road project with the help of Nepali Army
• Free dialysis service and kidney transplant
• Sufferers of 12 serious diseases to get Rs 1 lakh from the government
• Kathmandu residents to get drinking water from Melamchi project before Dashain festival
• 1,200 MW Budhi Gandaki hydel project to be awarded to a Chinese company
• Signing of one belt one road initiative
• Construction of 220 KV Khimti Dhalkebar transmission line project